Prelude to the Case

This “clicker case” is designed for introductory biology classes. The case follows Susan, an intern at a local hospital, as she admits a new patient, Brittany, who seems to be suffering the after effects of a night of partying. Susan soon discovers from some of the patient’s friends that Brittany also used the drug Ecstasy, but although Susan has seen people on the drug become confused, she has not seen them become delirious. Susan begins to suspect that Brittany may be suffering from water intoxication. Susan must determine if this is correct and how such an imbalance of salts might be affecting Brittany’s cells in order to devise an appropriate treatment.

This case was designed to be presented in a class that uses personal response systems, better known as “clickers.” The case study is presented in class via PowerPoint, with multiple-choice questions sprinkled throughout the “lecture.” Students are expected to answer the questions as they arise using their clickers. Many instructors allow students to consult with their neighbor before clicking in their answer. The entire approach encourages student participation even in the largest of classes. The use of clickers in combination with case studies is described in greater detail in the article “Clicker” Cases: Introducing Case Study Teaching Into Large Classrooms.

Date Posted: January 12, 2010.